OA soccer stars ready for next chapter

For senior captains Nathaniel Cardoza and Chris Lawrence, there were many highlight moments worth celebrating over the course of their careers on the Oliver Ames High boys soccer team.

There was one more noteworthy moment for Cardoza and Lawrence Thursday afternoon, Feb. 8, but this time, it required a signature.

With family in attendance, Cardoza and Lawrence each signed National Letters of Intent, as Cardoza will continue his soccer career at UMass-Amherst while Lawrence will suit up at Saint Michael’s College (Colchester, Vermont) in the fall.

“It’s a very big step in my life,” Cardoza said. “I’m very excited to see what it’s going to be like. I’m ready to work hard to try to play. It’s very honorable to get this because not a lot of kids have this opportunity. I’m very grateful to have this opportunity.”

Cardoza and Lawrence showcased their talent on the field this past season as the Tigers made a run to their third state final appearance in four years.

Cardoza was named the Hockomock League MVP and his stellar all-around play earned him United Soccer Coaches Association All-American honors.

When it came time to decide where he would play collegiately, Cardoza had options with Tufts University and Cornell University in the mix, but he felt at home being a Minuteman.

“I looked at it from an academic standpoint, soccer standpoint and also location,” Cardoza said. “I think it’s a really nice school. I liked the people that I met there. I just loved it.”

For Lawrence, signing his National Letter of Intent was the culmination of years of work he put into his game. It also was the perfect gift to give himself on his 18th birthday.

“It’s great,” Lawrence said. “It’s something that I never really thought I would do. It means so much after all the years of hard work and after seeing my friends do this and now actually experiencing it myself.”

Lawrence was a key member in OA’s vaunted defense and was named a Hockomock League and Eastern Mass. All-Star this season. But when his career first started with the Tigers, this day didn’t seem like a possibility.

“It’s still a little surreal,” Lawrence said. “Freshman year, I wasn’t expecting this at all. But as the years went on and I saw myself develop as a player, it became a reality.”

By signing on the dotted line, Cardoza and Lawrence not only ensured that their soccer careers will continue, but also cemented their legacies within the OA soccer program.

“I enjoy coaching, but I love seeing these guys go on to their next steps,” said OA head coach John Barata. “You couldn’t have two better kids moving on to play at the college level. Both of them will be very successful.”